Pedants' Paradise

[Serial_Apologist]

Similar to ( = convergent, towards)//different from (= divergent, away from).

Simples.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Similar to ( = convergent, towards)//different from (= divergent, away from).

Simples.

[vinteuil]

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There is a fairly lengthy article in Modern English Usage [1926 edn] in which Fowler explains why different to is a perfectly acceptable usage, 'found in writers of all ages', and why the objection to it is mere superstition.

I tend to use different from but don't object to different to . I understand that different than is - an Americanism...


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[Andy Freude]

Similar to ( = convergent, towards)//different from (= divergent, away from).

Simples.

And considering that 'different' is formed from a present participle, differens, would one ever be tempted to say 'to differ to' - this differs to what I was taught was correct?

Still, more shocking if Her Maj had said 'different than'.

[LezLee]

I don't mind the American 'different than'. For me, it retains a feeling of distance, whereas 'to' is moving closer rather than away from.

[Nick Armstrong]

My New Years resolution is to annoy less grammar pedants

[Historian]

My New Years resolution is to annoy less grammar pedants

Nearly fell for that one...

Happy New Year to all. We can argue about when the next decade starts another time.

[Andy Freude]

My New Years resolution is to annoy less grammar pedants

[oddoneout]

My New Years resolution is to annoy less grammar pedants

But grammarless pedants are still fair game I hope?

[LeMartinPecheur]

My New Years resolution is to annoy less grammar pedants

Caliban: defective W/O; x100 after school - "Annoy grammar pedants less."

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Speed up; slow down.

Not:-

Slow up; speed down.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

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There is a fairly lengthy article in Modern English Usage [1926 edn] in which Fowler explains why different to is a perfectly acceptable usage, 'found in writers of all ages', and why the objection to it is mere superstition.

When Fowler quotes usage from the past, all he is showing is that people have been messing up the language for millennia. That doesn't necessarily mean it's ok.

[vinteuil]

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... he doesn't just quote usage, he demonstrates over several paragraphs why the usage is reasonable and not inconsistent with how our language functions.

I am surprized to see Alpie using the Americanism 'ok' - still more to see him departing from normal form and expressing it in lower case.


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[LMcD]

Nearly fell for that one...

Happy New Year to all. We can argue about when the next decade starts another time.

Oh no we can't

Bonne Année / Prosit Neujahr!

[Serial_Apologist]

Nearly fell for that one...

Happy New Year to all. We can argue about when the next decade starts another time.

Surely you mean the next decayed?